Switch mechanism



April 21, 1931. w p I 1,801,826

SWITCH MECHANISM Filed May 26, 1928 INVFNTOR ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 21, 1931 PATENT OEF'iFI CE EDWARD WALPEB, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB T0 WESTINGHOUSE ELEC- TRIO & MANUFACTURING COMPANY,

A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA SWITCH MECHANISM Application filed 19 26,

My-invention relates .to. switch mechanism, :and particularly to panel switches of the tumbler-action type, commonlynsed for controlling branch :line "house wiring circuits.

One object of my invention is to; provide a vtumbler-typeswitchof simple construction and which may be readily assembled.

vAnother object of my invention I is to pro- 7 v-idev a tumbler 1 typev switch wherein the opvention,

crating handlepositively initiates movement of-ithe' switch amemberitoward open or closed positions prior to operation of the switch memberby'the' over-center actuatingspring.

A further object of my inventiontis to provide a single {pole tumbler type switch of compact construction, flIldFWhiGh maybe assembled upon a fuse panel beside a similar single 'pole switch moun-ted on the panel 7 without necessitating an increase in width of the standard I pa'neLunit, thus enabling the production of a fuse and switch panel containing the control apparatus for'two separate circuits.

These and other objects that willzbe' made apparent throughout'the further description of the invention are attained by means of the apparatus hereinafter described, and illus trated in the accompanying drawings, wherein. Figure 1 is a top plan View of a fuse and switch panel embodying features of my in- Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through a fragment of the panel taken on line IIII of Fig. 1, and showing a tumbler type switch unit in side elevation, and

Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the panel shown in Fig. 1, taken on the broken line IIIIII thereof and showing the tum-. bler switch units in end elevation.

Referring to the drawings, the panel unit comprises an insulating base 4 upon which is mounted a pair of separate fuse receptacles 5 and 6, that are connected through conduc-' tors 7, which are disposed on the rear surface of the panel, to contact terminals 8 having integral contact blades 9 extending normal to the front face of the panel. A similar pair of contact terminals 11 is provided with contact blades 12 that are mounted ad:

1928. aerial N0. 380,712.

:jacent the end of the panel'base i to which the load conductors (not shown) areeon- ;nected.

A recess 13 is;provided in=thepanel betwee'nthe eontact blades9 and 12 :andapair shape,l having a bottomportion 17 and a-pair of spaced parallel wingportions .18 thatare provided with openings 19 and notches :21 that extend inwardly from the ,base portion *as indicated in Fig. .2.

A-switch carrier 23- of .U-shape, provided with integral journalsfii ispivotally. mounted upon the frame, the journals 24-being;piv:

oted in bearing. openings 25-inthe side wings .;18 of the frame. The switch arms :15 are securedrto the carrier 23 upon lugs .25, the :switch arm being clamped 'between metal washers -26.-and insulated ;from the carries -by insulating'washers .27. The lugs 25 are ;peened..at.theirroutenends to fix the switch arms in assembled position upon the carrier.

The carrier :is actuated by .means 'of an insulating -.operating handle .28 that is piv- -=oted for rotation upon the shaft 29 that con- I nects the'outereend .of the .frame wings 18.

The operating handle is provided with an operating member31 that isembedded .in-the .handle .and :moves .with it. The operating member 31-isgprovided with ta .notch '32 that engages a-notch 33 in. the outer end .ofa pintle 34 which is slidably mounteduponthecross 35 andthe carrier23, the freeendiof the pintle .34 .being forked to receive the cross:

:bar

A spring36 surrounding the ,pin'tle' is confined between the enlarged outer end of (the pintle andthe crossbar 35 and serves to move the .switchto eitherof its limited positions with a snap action when the spring has been moved past a center line connectingtheshaft 29(and the cross bar35 'ofethe'carrier. Move mentofthscarrienisilimited by the sides 37 ofthenntches 21 and movement of-the operating handle is limited by lugs 38 extending transversely from the operating member 31 V and which engage the edges 39 of the openthrough the medium of the carrier and the spring 36, to move to theopen position.

The switch arms sometime become fastened to the contacts due to corrosion or overheating thereof, and it is 'an'object to 7 provide means for initially moving the switch arm' with respect to the; contacts before the spring 36 has been moved over center, in order to permit it to move the switch to open position with a snap action. carrier 23 is provided with extensions 41 that are adapted to be engaged by the lugs 38 on the operatingmember31. After the operating handle has moved a predetermined distance, one of the lugs38 engages one 'of the extensions 41, and causes the carrier to be rotated before the spring 36 has been moved to its over-center position. By reason of this construction, the switch arm is positively moved by the operating handle, after the latter has moved a predetermined distance. Because of the lost motion connection between the operating handle and the switch arm, the latter is free to move to either open or closed position with a snap actionfin re- I spo nse to the movement of the spring 36, re-

' gardless of the position of the operating handle. v o

The construction is compactand by reversing the positions of two similar tumbler switches, the switcharins are. disposed on the outer sides of the carriers in a position to engage the contactblades9 and 12. Thus, two single pole switches may be connected on'the same panel in series with two separate 7 fuse receptacles, thereby enabling the mounting of acontrol'apparatus for two separate circuits upon one insulating base.

While I' have illustrated but one embodi ment of'my invention, itwill be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions, additions and omissions may be made in the apparatus illustrated without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, as-set forth in the'appe'nded claims,

,I claim as my invention? '1. A tumbler switch comprising a pair of spaced frame members having two pairs of openings therein, a switch'member of U;

The r shape, pivotally mounted upon the frame gaging the said extensions for positively moving the switch member after the operating member has moved a predetermined distance in either direction, and an over-center spring for connecting the operating member and the switch member. I

2. A tumbler switch comprisinga support member, a switch member pivotally mounted thereon, and movable to different positions, an operatingmember for-' the switch member pivotally mounted upon the support member, an over-center spring connecting the operating member and the switch member for moving the switch member to the said positions with a snap action'when the center of the spring has been moved past the center line of the pivots of the said members, and means on the said operating member for engaging the switch member and initiating movement of the latter after the operating member has moved apredetermined distance and before the spring has moved past the said center line and for engaging the said support for limitmg movement of the operating member in either direction. 

